Australia’s National Centre of Excellence in Desalination creates fresh ideas for sustainable water.
NCEDA drives scientific excellence in improving desalination technologies that will further reduce energy use and carbon emissions, boost rural and regional Australian communities, and improve Australian know-how to provide water solutions here and overseas.
The Centre is a unique consortium of 13 leading Australian research universities and CSIRO scientists collaborating with industry, business and water utilities, bringing together Australia’s key thinkers and developers of desalination technology. NCEDA has widely consulted with Australia’s top research institutions and industry leaders, and investigated international benchmarks to develop Australia’s Desalination Research Roadmap to lead research efforts.
The Centre is investing $20 million in Australian Government funding, provided under the Government’s Water for the Future initiative. World-class NCEDA scientists around Australia are leading 33 desalination research projects in collaboration with nearly 50 industry partners. Ground-breaking research worth $32 million includes the use of nanotechnology, solar power, developing solutions to increase recycling of desal membranes, and monitoring of marine life.
Download the NCEDA fact sheet (0.2 MB PDF).
The Centre’s Vision for Desalination in Australia
Efficient and sustainable augmentation of traditional water sources to provide security against the natural variability of rainfall and potential future impacts of climate change.
The Centre’s Mission
To optimise and adapt desalination technology for use in Australia’s unique circumstances; to develop suitable desalination technology for use in rural and regional areas; and, to efficiently and affordably reduce the carbon footprint of desalination facilities and technologies.
The Centre’s Strategic Objectives
The Centre’s founding strategic objectives have been adopted from goals outlined by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts in its Funding Guidelines. Therefore, to support the development of programs and activities within the Centre, six strategic objectives have been established. These are:
- To lead research in energy efficient desalination technologies;
- To provide facilities to researchers and industry to support the development of new desalination technologies;
- To commercialise resultant new desalination technologies;
- To build national capacity and capabilities in desalination research and industry;
- To promote increased public acceptance of alternate water sources; and
- To become a sustainable research centre through commercialisation and industry partnerships.
Centre Strategy 2021
Strategy 2021 aims to provide clear direction for the National Centre of Excellence in Desalination Australia (NCEDA) for the next 10 years. By 2021, we aim to be financially sustainable and internationally recognised for our quality of research, commercialisation of ideas and development of our people. Success will be indicated by Australian desalination know-how being highly sought for water solutions around the world.
We want to make things happen. Fresh water means life – we want to see affordable, environmentally sustainable desalination widely available for people everywhere.
Read the NCEDA Strategy 2021 (1 MB PDF).
